Joy

She wiped away her tears. “Woah, I’m such a mess...”

When we come together and share in our struggles, we are able to break down the barriers that separate us and discover the joy of companionship.

This joy that we find in union with one another is contagious. Here’s an encounter from one of our team members that happened just the other week.

“She came for food with tears streaming down her face as she told me her story. She was the only bread winner in her household. She had grandchildren and other family members unexpectedly living with her that she couldn’t provide for — she felt like she was at her wit’s end.

After she finished and took a deep breath, she looked in the rearview mirror of her car and wiped away her tears. “Woah, I’m such a mess.”

Thinking about my own week of intense struggles I simply replied, “Me too. I looked like that only yesterday!”

We looked at each other and started to laugh.

In that moment, a sharing of struggles turned into a moment of cherished joy.

The next week that same woman returned, this time, with a giant smile on her face. She said that since we talked, her whole week had changed. “Thank you, Thank you!” Her gratefulness was not only for the food that was provided, but more particularly for our shared companionship.”

It has been beautiful to witness our community coming together to offer joy to thousands in our community. Together, we have the power to heal each other in the joy of today, so that we can be sustained through another tomorrow.